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https://hdl.handle.net/11499/51090
Title: | Environmental and Mineralogical Controls on Biosignature Preservation in Magnesium Carbonate Systems Analogous to Jezero Crater, Mars | Authors: | Burnie, Teanna M. Power, Ian M. Paulo, Carlos Alçiçek, Hüulya Falcon, Luisa, I Lin, Yongjie Wilson, Siobhan A. |
Keywords: | Jezero Crater Mars Terrestrial analogs Microbial fossils Aragonite Hydromagnesite Aragonite-Calcite Transformation Quantitative Phase-Analysis Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Rare-Earth-Element Isotope Fractionation Modern Microbialites Thermal Dehydration British-Columbia Pilbara Craton Alkaline Lake |
Publisher: | Mary Ann Liebert, Inc | Abstract: | Jezero Crater on Mars is a paleolacustrine environment where Mg-carbonates may host evidence of ancient life. To elucidate the environmental and mineralogical controls on biosignature preservation, we examined samples from five terrestrial analogs: Lake Salda (Turkey), Lake Alchichica (Mexico), Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (China), Mg-carbonate playas (British Columbia, Canada), and a mine with fine-grained ultramafic tailings (Yukon, Canada). The mineralogical compositions of the samples varied, yet were often dominated by either aragonite (CaCO3) or hydromagnesite [Mg-5(CO3)(4)(OH)(2)center dot 4H(2)O]. Aragonite-rich samples from Alchichica, Mg-carbonate playas, and the ultramafic mine contained an abundance of entombed microbial biomass, including organic structures that resembled cells, whereas hydromagnesite-rich samples were devoid of microfossils. Aragonite often precipitates subaqueously where microbes thrive, thereby increasing the likelihood of biomass entombment, while hydrated Mg-carbonates typically form by evaporation in subaerial settings where biofilms are less prolific. Magnesite (MgCO3), the most stable Mg-carbonate, forms extremely slowly, which may limit the capture of biosignatures. Hydrated Mg-carbonates are prone to transformation via coupled dissolution-precipitation reactions that may expose biosignatures to degradation. Although less abundant, aragonite is commonly found in Mg-carbonate environments and is a better medium for biosignature preservation due to its fast precipitation rates and relative stability, as well as its tendency to form subaqueously and lithify. Consequently, we propose that aragonite be considered a valuable exploration target on Mars. | URI: | https://doi.org/10.1089/ast.2022.0111 https://hdl.handle.net/11499/51090 |
ISSN: | 1531-1074 1557-8070 |
Appears in Collections: | Mühendislik Fakültesi Koleksiyonu PubMed İndeksli Yayınlar Koleksiyonu / PubMed Indexed Publications Collection Scopus İndeksli Yayınlar Koleksiyonu / Scopus Indexed Publications Collection WoS İndeksli Yayınlar Koleksiyonu / WoS Indexed Publications Collection |
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